The Salkehatchie name comes from a river that flows through the coastal plain of South Carolina, where many of the towns and neighborhoods we serve are located. Just like the river, Salkehatchie’s service follows a course through time that is influenced by location, people, circumstances and historical events.
J ohn Culp, the founder and ever-present shepherd, started leading youth groups into dedicated service back in 1978. A group of 40 United Methodists stepped into the lives of four families affected by some of the worst poverty in America. They worked tirelessly for one week restoring dilapidated houses on the Sea Islands of South Carolina. With one week of work, the lives of these youth and families had been forever transformed.
This small group has now transformed into 46 Camps and 2,000+ campers every summer.
The Salkehatchie Summer Service is an autonomous mission supported entirely by its participants, the communities it serves, and the United Methodist Church Conference of South Carolina.
It’s More Than Just a Summer Camp
It’s a Life Changing Week
Salkehatchie is more than just a church outreach program. It is more than just a volunteer group and it is more than just a summer youth camp. Salkehatchie is faith in action. Youth volunteers head into rural, low-income towns to work in difficult conditions, allowing themselves to be the face, hands and feet of Christ.
Volunteers spend one week:
- Performing home repairs in teams, doing projects as small as a building a ramp or as big as remodeling an entire kitchen.
(All skill sets are welcomed and encouraged.) - Making a bond with families of different backgrounds than their own.
- Learning about teamwork and making friendships that last a lifetime.
Salkehatchie strips youth of their familiar roles for seven days. Experience the significance of going unplugged, with a limited regimen in an open learning environment. You will be encouraged to do things for yourself, problem solve and learn from one another.
United Methodist Church Conference of South Carolina
The Salkehatchie Summer Service camps are a program of the South Carolina Conference Board of Global Ministries. Service camps are designed for United Methodist Youth in SC, but we encourage and welcome all faiths.
